by K.J. Lincoln
The Lower Kuskokwim School District All Stars won the first place team trophy at the 2018 State Native Youth Olympics competition this past weekend. They scored 41 points overall. Coming in second were the Unalaska Raiders with 34 points. In third was the Mat-Su A-Team with 29 points.
Last year, the LKSD All Stars came in 4th.
It was tough competition, the best of the best NYO athletes were there from all over the state – from Mount Edgecumbe to Barrow and everywhere in between. Athletes had to perform under pressure. Also watching were the keen eyes of the judges – no mistakes were allowed.
This year several Yukon Kuskokwim delta area students won gold medals. Wilton Charles of Toksook Bay, won the boys Kneel Jump with his spring of 61 ½”. He also won this event last year. Mikayla Kassaiuli of Newtok and Calvin Egoak of Kipnuk both won the Alaskan High Kick – Kassaiuli with her kick of 69” and Egoak with 88”. Chantal Snyder of Kwigillingok won the One Arm Reach with her reach of 58”. Arnold Phillip, also of Kwigillingok, won the Boys Indian Stick Pull, going undefeated in the event. Harberg Paul of Kipnuk won the Boys Seal Hop, going 157’ 9”.
All these winners represented the LKSD All Star Team. Coaches included Paul Paul of Kipnuk, Tommy Andrew of Kwigillingok, and Myra Woods of Toksook Bay.
The Lower Yukon School District team won the Best Banner Award for the second year in a row.
The Health Coach Awards was given to Kyle Worl, who brought together a team after a 30 year drought and revitalizing NYO in his community of Juneau.
Winning the Sportsmanship Award were the Unalaska Raiders.
Each year the Cook Inlet Tribal Council hosts the Senior and Junior NYO games. During the opening ceremony, organization partners supporting the NYO state meet gave their opening welcomes. Special honor was given to elder Ben Snowball, who preceded NYO Head Official Nicole Johnston as coordinator of the Games, when he first worked for Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC), back when it was still called Cook Inlet Native Association. He grew up in Stebbins, playing the games that created the basis for NYO with his friends and family.
SENIOR GAMES Results & Awards
THURSDAY, April 26
KNEEL JUMP
Girls
Jean Krause, Dillingham, 45”
Alexandria Ivanoff, Bering Strait, A 43′ ½”
Tezlyn Kerron, Mat-Su A, 43”/42”
Rissa Bucaneg, Unalaska, 43”/40 ¾”
Emily Pomerenke, Nome, 42 ½”
Boys
Wilton Charles, LKSD, 61 ½”
Daniel Peters, Unalaska, 61”
Tim Meyer, Mat-Su A, 56”
Edward Nick, SWRSD, 54 ¾”
Justin Dye, Dillingham, 54”
WRIST CARRY
Girls (with carriers)
Britney Dray (Ralph & Jesse), Dillingham, 395’ 3”
Lorraine Gregory (Axel & Gene), Anchorage A, 304’ 7 ¼”
Lisa Tran (Trevor & Talon), Unalaska, 242’ 4 ¾”
Kelsie Madson (Matthew & Albert), Bethel 223’ 6 ½”
Erin Staricha (Briar & Sean), Mat-Su A, 211’ 3 ¼”
Boys
Justin Dye (Ralphie & Jesse), Dillingham, 672’ 5 ¼”
Tremaine Davis (Briar & Sean), Mat-Su A, 435’ 2 ½”
Thomas Dyment (Matt & Albert), Bethel, 434’ 9 ½”
Harberg Paul (Arnold & Calvin), LKSD, 404’ 11 ½”
Trevor Soik (Briar & Sean), Mat-Su B, 383’ 11 ¾”
ALASKAN HIGH KICK
Girls
Mikayla Kassaiuli, LKSD, 69″ 0 misses
(TIE for 2nd) Camille Bernard, Mat-Su B, 68″ 2m
(TIE for 2nd) Misty May Wilmarth-Agoff, Chickaloon, 68″ 2m
Britney Dray, Dillingham, 66″ 0m
Jo Beth Stuart, Bethel, 65″ 0m
Boys
Calvin Egoak, LKSD, 88″ 1 miss
Axel Tretikoff, Anchorage A, 88″ 2m
John Villena, Unalaska, 87″ 0m
Justin Ward, Aniak, 86″ om
Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD, 86″ 1m
FRIDAY, April 27
ESKIMO STICK PULL
Girls
Ashley Hoglund, Mat-Su A
Kiara Nelson, LPSD
Rayna Peterson, Mt. Edgecumbe
Rose Lincoln, Anchorage A
Madison Ortega, Mat-Su B
Boys
Haley Osborne, Mt. Edgecumbe
Dylan Jackson, Mat-Su A
Derrick Roberts, Juneau
Matthew Faosua, Unalaska
Simeon Zackar, LPSD
SCISSOR BROAD JUMP
Girls
Alexandria Ivanoff, BSSD A, 28′ 6 1/2″
Emily Pomrenke, Nome, 27′ 3 1/2″
Susan Beaty, Mat-Su B, 26′ 8 3/4″
Crystalynn Tula’i, Barrow, 26′ 7 1/2″
Lizzie Tran, Unalaska, 26′ 3″
Boys
John Villena, Unalaska, 35′ 7″
Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD A, 35′ 1/4″
Damarcus G, Anchorage A, 33′ 9 1/2″
Tony Oktollik, Nenana, 33′ 8″
Johnny Bosco, LKSD, 33′ 5 1/4″
ONE-HAND REACH
Girls
Chantal Synder, LKSD, 58″
Jodi Carlson, BSSD A, 57″
JoBeth Stuart, Bethel, 56″
Jessica Lindsey, Mat-Su A, 54″ 0 misses
Kiara Kapotak, SWRSD, 54″ 1m
Boys
Brian Conwell, Unalaska, 65″
Brayden Dallmann, Aniak, 64″
Iris Paul, LKSD, 62″
Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD B, 61″ (TIE)
Shelby Samuel, Mt. Edgecumbe, 61″ (TIE)
TWO-FOOT HIGH KICK
Girls
Alexandria Ivanoff, BSSD A, 75″
Katelyn Paul, LKSD, 71″
Andrea Apthorp, Mat-Su B, 70″
Amber Gray, Nome, 68″ 1 miss
Hana Miles, Mat-Su A, 66″ 1 m
Boys
Trevor Wilson, Unalaska, 90″
Brayden Dallmann, Aniak, 90″ 4 misses
Jacob Kompkoff, Chenega, 88″
Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD B, 88″ 1 m
Clayton Mesak, LKSD, 87″
SATURDAY, April 28
INDIAN STICK PULL
Girls
Alexiah Ahkiviana, Barrow
Kaia Beebe, LPSD
Misty May Wilmartha-Agoff, Chickaloon
Chloe Phillips, ANC A
Laura Ekada, Mt. Edgecumbe
Boys
Arnold Phillip, LKSD
Dillon Chaney, Dillingham
Sale L., Anchorage A
Jasiah Mila, Barrow
Steven Woods, Tanana
ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK
Girls
Alexandria Ivanoff, BSSD A, 91″
Milya Wright, Barrow, 88″
Emily Pomrenke, Nome, 86″ 2 misses/84″
Suzanne Beaty, Mat-Su A, 86″ 3m/84″
Kaia Beebe, LPSD, 86″ 3m/74″
Boys
Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD B, 106″
Kaiden Jimenez, Mat-Su A, 104″ 1 miss
Demarcus G., Anchorage A, 104″ 3m
Braden Dallmann, Aniak, 104″ 4m
Al Lane, Nenana, 101″
SEAL HOP
Girls
Abi Fry, Nunamiut, 133′ 5 1/2″
Maysa Brown, Chevak, 127′ 6 1/2″
Trillium Kell, Chickaloon, 106′ 5 1/2″
Lisa Tran, Unalaska, 100′ 6 3/4″
Celeste Katcheak, Bering Strait A, 97′ 7″
Boys
Harberg Paul, LKSD, 157′ 9″
Edward Atcherian, Chevak, 155′ 1 1/2″
Alvin Washington, Bering Strait A, 116′ 9 1/2″
Trevor Wilson, Unalaska, 112′ 51/4″
Luther Walker, LYSD, 99′ 8″
Sportsmanship Awards
Male: Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD
Female: Alexandria Ivanoff, BSSD
Gloria Walker Sportsmanship Award
Unalaska Raiders
Healthy Coach Award
Kyle Worl, Juneau
Best Team Banner
LYSD
Overall Athlete
Male: Arctic Ivanoff, BSSD, 14 pts.
Female: Alexandria Ivanoff, BSSD, 19 pts.
Overall Teams
1st LKSD, 41
2nd Unalaska, 34
3rd MatSu A-Team, 29
4th BSSD A-Team, 28
5th Dillingham, 22
Academic Awards
Andreafsky High School: 3.643 GPA
Bethel Regional: 3.519 GPA
Unalaska Raiders: 3.442 GPA
Congratulations to all the athletes for a job well done!
